(3) K-3 Illustrated by Erin Bennett Banks. This story highlights the bravery of young protagonist Simmy and his community of fellow slaves who dared to gather to pray in secret. The lyrical prose is sprinkled with lines from spirituals. Rich, dark-hued illustrations contrast the background of cotton fields, symbolic of a slave's endless labor, with the woods representing freedom.

Reviewer: Henrietta M. Smith

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Shawn Costello. In a sometimes sentimental text, Evans tells about the events leading up to the acquisition of a school bus for blacks in a rural Mississippi community during segregation. The illustrations adequately capture the mood of the text, though a lack of detail results in rather fuzzy compositions. An author's note provides details about the actual events that inspired the book.

Reviewer: Henrietta M. Smith